Ex-Slayer Drummer Dave Lombardo Teams Up with Retox, the Locust Members as Dead Cross

Though a messy financial battle a couple of years back means we'll likely never hear Dave Lombardo pounding out beats with Slayer ever again, the master metal drummer has announced he'll be smacking skins in a new punk band alongside members of the Locust and Retox. Though they apparently just got together a week ago, the newly christened Dead Cross play their first show next month.

An interview with Lombardo notes that his Philm project just broke up the other day, ahead of a handful of tour dates with Mexican outfit Descartes a Kant. Apparently, he crossed paths with music producer Ross Robinson and Retox vocalist Justin Pearson last week, which led to the musicians quickly talking about starting a new band so Lombardo wouldn't have to back out on the gigs.

"Justin's guitar player [Mike Crain] from his new band, Retox, was there as well, so we caught up on some stories, and I told them the situation that I was in, and they were very excited to help and put something together and do these shows," Lombardo told Noisey. "Ross was really excited to see our camaraderie and enthusiasm, too, and said, 'When you guys get music together, come on in and let's record it.' It's really a surprise to me how fast it all came together; it's mindblowing, I couldn't believe it. We've been rehearsing now for three days, writing music."

The full lineup finds Lombardo handling drums, Crain on guitar, Pearson on bass, and Rats Eyes/the Locust member Gabe Serbian on vocals. Despite the latter gripping a microphone in Dead Cross, Lombardo branded the multi-instrumentalist "one of my favourite drummers."

Considering the act just formed last week, no previews have been made available just yet, but the former Slayer drummer called Dead Cross "straightforward brutal punk."

He continued: "I think it definitely leans more towards the punk style, because I feel that the way things are in the world, a punk attitude is definitely necessary to help you along with the shit that's going on. There's no time to sing 'We Are the World,' or all this bullshit, we're all pissed right now, and there's no better way to release anger than to be in a punk band and write punk music."

Lombardo added that he hopes the band records a pair of singles and a full-length in the new year.

Dead Cross make their live debut on December 1 at San Diego's Casbah venue before hitting Hollywood's the Roxy Theatre and Pomona's Glass House. You'll find the schedule down below.

As previously reported, Pearson and Serbian have been working with Robinson on a new album from their resuscitated Head Wound City project, which also features members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Blood Brothers. Details on the album, including its ETA, have yet to drop.

In related news, Pearson's new Planet B project releases a two-song 7-inch next Friday (November 27) through his own Three One G imprint.